Erik Magnuson (#78)
Name: Erik Magnuson
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 296 lbs.
High school: Carlsbad (CA) La Costa Canyon
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #78
Last year: I ranked Magnuson #4 and said he would be the starting left guard. He started five games at offensive guard.
I have had as difficult of a time pinning down Magnuson as I have anyone during these countdowns, I think. He was brought in with the goal of playing him as a left tackle, and he has played almost anything but that. I pegged him as Michigan’s starting left guard last season, but that was mostly the job of Graham Glasgow. The right tackle was Ben Braden, who struggles in pass protection, which is a stronger suit for Magnuson. The left tackle was Mason Cole, a true freshman who looked like a guard coming out of high school. After being squeezed out of the offensive line, Brady Hoke dressed him up as a tight end with a #81 jersey and let him play in heavy packages late in the season.
This year I think the picture is a little clearer. Glasgow is needed at center now that Jack Miller quit football, so that opens up a spot at left guard. Magnuson has been waiting in the wings for a couple seasons, starting roughly half the games over that span. I don’t see a lot of weaknesses in Magnuson’s game, but obviously Hoke’s staff disagreed somewhat. Interior players pushing from behind are redshirt sophomore guard David Dawson and redshirt sophomore center Patrick Kugler, who could potentially push Glasgow back to guard with a good camp. However, the lineup is expected to remain the same as in the spring, and I am significantly more confident in Magnuson at this point than either Dawson or Kugler. With a new offensive line coach in Tim Drevno, Magnuson and the rest of the line should take a step forward.
Prediction: Starting right tackle
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Starting left guard? I thought he was going to be our right tackle.
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You’re right. I just didn’t change that from last year.
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Mags definitely has had an unusual career so far. He was a guy whom I thought looked a little better in ’13 than he did in ’14, which is odd. RT is definitely not an ideal fit for him, as he has not been able to add a lot of bulk since arriving at UM. The reason he is valuable is that there are only three guys who are plausible at OT – Cole, Mags, and Glasgow (RT). I just don’t see any of the back-ups having a chance. LTT continues to be a project. Bushell Beaty is working at RG. Newsome is apparently not poised to get early playing time. One of the coaches is talking up Bars as a back-up RT, but that reeks of an attempt to “manufacture” a competitive situation.
On the bright side, I do think Mags has the feet to be a pretty good pass blocker. And he has a good shot of being a better player overall than Braden last year. So if guys like Cole, Kalis, and Glasgow are taking steps forward in their development, UM can live with a journeyman RT and still be improved as a group.
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Agree with the rank. Magnuson has bounced around but to me he seems like he has played pretty well for a RS Fresh and RS Soph. OL is huge for this team.
Interesting thing about Cole and Magnuson at tackle — they both excel at pass protection, which means the blindside will be protected whether the QB is left-handed or right…
I have not heard anywhere that Kugler, Dawson, and company are pushing. The starters seem locked in. That’s a good thing if you ask me, but it’s always nice if the younger backups can draw a little buzz too.
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There has not been much buzz period. Practice observers are really at a loss because Harbaugh does so much shuffling of players. Really interested to see how things play out. I have a lot of confidence that this staff (moreso than previous ones) will instill a meritocracy when it comes to depth chart and playing time. I will be surprised if Braden holds onto a starting LG role through the season. Just can’t picture him handling quick or strong DT’s. There has to be a more natural guard on the roster whom the staff can get ready to play.
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I haven’t had that impression from the buzz. I’ve only heard good things about the starters. You’re right that no one is exactly raving about Braden, but remember that he was a starter last year on a competent OL. It seems like OG reduces his exposure in pass rush. Dude is pretty big, so I’m not too worried about DTs pushing him back. Maybe he is too tall for the interior, maybe not, but 6’6 guys have played inside very often. I’m more concerned about him getting around on pulls and finding guys to block on the move. If you believe his speed is real though, it might even help to have him pulling.
Anyway, the whole season’s hopes for this team hinge on coaching. Hoke had a decent base of talent in place (at least on defense and OL), but we Michigan fans hope that talent goes from being underutilized to overacheiving under Drevno, Durkin, and Harbaugh. We’ll see, but it feels like we have nothing to do BUT hope the team is better coached, especially given the track records of these guys.
So, if you take what the OL did last year and extrapolate a year of growth and a significantly better coaching situations…they could be very very good.
To me, the position switches make a ton of sense for this team. Also – hopefully the TEs can chip in and be better than they have been the last 3 years.
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